Photo provider system, photo providing method, print order reception apparatus and printer

Abstract

A photo provider system consists of an order reception server and a number of printers, and is installed in such recreational facilities as an amusement park. The printers are placed in individual Areas of the recreational facilities. The order reception server receives print orders of the photographed images from a camera that serves as a portable print order terminal for a visitor to carry it about. The order reception server also detects the location of the camera on the basis of the position data sent from the camera and determines the area where an ordered exists. Furthermore, the order reception server composes the photographed images with ornamental images linked with attractions or characters of the determined area, and orders the nearest printer to the orderer to print the composite images.

1 . A photo provider system for providing photo prints to visitors to particular play facilities, said photo prints being made from images photographed by the visitors, comprising: 
 at least a printer installed in the play facilities, for making the photo prints;    order sending terminals for sending print order data through radio communication, said print order data including data of images photographed by the visitors; and    a print order reception apparatus comprising a radio communication device that receives said print order data from said order sending thermals and sends data of images to print to said printer, a data storage device for storing ornamental images relating to said play facilities, and an image composer for composing one of the images photographed by the visitors with one of said ornamental images, wherein data of a composite image as composed in said image composer is sent to said printer, to print the composite image.    
     
     
         2 . A photo provider system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said ornamental images include many kinds of ornamental images which differ from one area to another of said play facilities, and said order sending terminal sends position data to said print order reception apparatus, and wherein said print order reception apparatus comprises a device of determining based on said position data a nearest one of said areas to said order sending terminal, and chooses those of said ornamental images which are allocated to said determined area.  
     
     
         3 . A photo provider system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said order sending terminal is attached to a camera that is carried about by the visitor.  
     
     
         4 . A photo provider system as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said print order reception apparatus detects the present position of a visitor who sends a print order on the basis of said position data received from said order sending terminal.  
     
     
         5 . A photo provider system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a number of said printers are installed in different areas of said play facilities, and said order sending terminal sends position data to said print order reception apparatus, and wherein and said print order reception apparatus comprises a device of determining based on said position data a nearest one of said printers to said order sending terminal, and sends the data of image to print to said determined printer.  
     
     
         6 . A photo provider system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said print order reception apparatus is capable of sending data for confirmation of said composite image back to said order sending terminal through said radio communication device.  
     
     
         7 . A photo providing method of providing visitors to particular play facilities with photo prints that are made from images photographed by the visitors, comprising steps of: 
 sending print order data including data of said photographed image from an order sending terminal to a print order reception apparatus through radio communication;    composing said photographed image with an ornamental image that is previously stored and relating to said play facilities; and    sending data of a consequent composite image to a printer that is installed in said play facilities, to print said composite image.    
     
     
         8 . A photo providing method as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising steps of: 
 sending position data from said order sending terminal to said print order reception apparatus;    determining based on said position data a nearest one of different areas of said play facilities to said order sending terminal; and    choosing one of said ornamental images in accordance with said determined area, for the image composition.    
     
     
         9 . A photo providing method as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising steps of: 
 obtaining position data from said order sending terminal;    determining based on said position data a nearest one of a number of printers, which are installed in different areas of said play facilities, to said order sending terminal; and    sending data of said composite image to said determined printer.    
     
     
         10 . A photo providing method as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising steps of: 
 sending, after the image composition, data for confirmation of said composite image back to said order sending terminal; and    starting a printing process upon receipt of an order confirmation from said order sending terminal.    
     
     
         11 . A print order reception apparatus used in a photo provider system for providing a visitor to particular play facilities with photo prints that are made from images photographed by a camera that the visitor carries about, said print order reception apparatus comprising: 
 a radio communication device for receiving print order data including data of said photographed image from an order sending terminal that is carried about by the visitor, and for sending said photographed image to a printer;    a data storage device for storing ornamental images relating to said play facilities; and    an image composer for composing said photographed image with said ornamental image.    
     
     
         12 . A print order reception apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising an ornamental image choosing device that obtains position data from said order sending terminal, determines based on said position data a nearest one of different areas of said play facilities to said order sending terminal, and chooses said ornamental image for the image composition in accordance with said determined area.  
     
     
         13 . A print order reception apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising a printer determination device that obtains position data from said order sending terminal, and determines based on said position data a nearest one of a number of printers, which are installed in different areas of said play facilities, to said order sending terminal.  
     
     
         14 . A print order reception apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said print order reception apparatus sends, after the image composition, data for confirmation of said composite image back to said order sending terminal, and sends a command for executing a printing process to said printer upon receipt of an order confirmation from said order sending terminal.  
     
     
         15 . A printer used in a photo provider system for providing a visitor to particular play facilities with photo prints that are made from images photographed by a camera that the visitor carries about, said printer comprising: 
 a radio communication device for communicating with a print order reception apparatus, to execute a printing process in accordance with a print command received through said radio communication device from said print order reception apparatus.